Gravity illustrating toy



July 22, 1952 J. R. BATES GRAVITY ILLUSTRATING TOY Filed Aug. 12, 1950 John R Bafes, I

Patented July 22, 1952 fasoasss- 7 1mm?ELU IT r j j This invention relates to'a' gravity illustrating toy.

More specifically speaking, this invention pertains to a toy whichoperates in 'a paradoxical manner and demonstrates the factthata body rotationally mounted upon an inclined track will roll upwardly along said track provided 'the de-' vice is so constructedas to cause the center of vances along the track.

Accordingly, it'is an object of the invention to provide an educational, mechanical-toy; particularly well adapted for use in instructing pupils and students in schools, as well as for home use, in the practical operation of the laws of gravitation.

Also, in conjunction with the foregoing feature, it is an object of the invention to provide a toy which will be of an amusing, thought awakening character, owing to the fact that it operates in a paradoxical manner appearing to contradict the law of gravitation.

Another object is to provide means for rotationally mounting a body in such a manner that it will in a puzzling manner roll back and forth across the apical juncture of two inclined tracks a number of times'before coming to rest.

In conjunction with the foregoing objects it is gravity of said body'to descend as the body ad- 7 a specific object to provide a very low cost fold-' able frame which may be placed upon a horizontal supporting surface in a position to afford the inclined tracks up which the rotatable member travels under the urge of gravity.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention which has been reduced to practice,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frame portion of the device showing the same in one position in full lines and in another position in broken lines. Also thegravity operated roller is shown in broken lines at the two limits of its travel.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the structure of Fig. 1 on a somewhat smaller scale, the full line and broken line positions of the latter view being reversed as to the frame, the roller being shown in full lines in its starting position and in broken lines at the opposite limit of its travel.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a foldable embodiment of the invention, three different positions of the roller beingindicated in phantom lines.

' resins. (o1. s5 "19) Fig. Lisa sideelevation' or-uie structure of Fig. 3 shown, on asornewhatsmallei scale illus trating the travelof the rolling bQdy over't'he apex; bf the tfackfi 1 "Fig. 5 is a perspective "view therein per se Referring in det'ailto the drawing, therein-is shown in Fig. 1, an open frame comprising two diverging rr'ie'mbers 1 and 8 which constitute the rails of a"track whereon' a doubly com'c'al'body 9 rolls; l appearing to'iti'avel uph'ill as it does so. Said'rails l and'Fareunitd by an'obtusely an gular stripf l I, the angl l lit-of whichis directed outwardly which completes the side 'portions of said frame. Said side members 1 and 8 respectively carry at their upper ends short legs l2 and 13 which complete the frame shown in Figs. v 1 and 2. Said strip ll lies in the same plane as said rails l and 8.

With the track forming frame that has been to the midlength of said body, and this body must be of the right size properly to cooperate with the aforesaid diverging rails 1 and 8.

The open frame which has been described may be made of plastic, wood or other suitable material. When made of wood the legs l2 and I3 will be miniature boards square cut and sufliciently wide to be depended upon to balance the frame structure in the horizontal position which is so shown in full lines in Fig. 1, when the body 9 has rolled into the angle of the top strip H.

Normally the apex portion of the frame will contact with the supporting surface as shown in Fig. 2, where it will be seen that there is a definiteclearance between the lower side of the bodyv 9 and said surface; whereas, after the body 9 has rolled. to the opposite end of said frame the clearance under said body will be definitely less, showing clearly that it has gravitated to a to a sufficient extent from its mid-length toeach end, (2) the inclination of the track must not be too great, and (3) the rails of the track must diverge sufficiently from below upwardly to cause each of the two points of contact of when the body is the roller with the underlying track to move toward the apex of the cone at its end of the roller with a sufficient rapidity to cause the roller as a whole to gravitate downwardly as it advances toward the upper end of the track. with the result that an apparent upward movement of the roller'along said track occurs as the center of the mass of said roller moves downwardly.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modification wherein an acutely angularstrip I is substituted for the strip ll of Figs. 1 and 2. Said strip l5 has its end portions disposed inside of the end portions of the legs l2 and I3 where it is pivotally at tached by rivets l6, thus making it possibleto fold upon each-other the two V-shaped strips which form said frame, rendering the device more convenient 'to carry about or to pack .for shipment.

In Fig. 4 the rolling body 9 is shown in a num ber of difierent positions on the modified frame, illustrating how it will roll up across the apex of the diamond shaped frame then after-,its inertia has been spent will roll back across the said apexdoing this a. number ot times until it I finally comes to rest upon saidapex, the center of gravity of said body being at the lowest level located at said apex. Ielaim: 1..In -a toy orthe kind described-,- an-open frame consistingof a first V-shaped strip which forms a pair of inclined,upwardly diverging track rails, a second similarly dimensioned and positioned V-shaped strip having its ends fastened to the ends-of said first. strip, th'ereby'forming 4 an open frame which is diamond shaped as viewed in plan with a vertex at each end, said frame having an apex portion where said two strips meet, a leg carried by each side portion of said frame, said legs cooperating with the angular portions of said strips to support said frame upon a horizontal surface in a position to form two tracks each of which inclines upwardly from the vertex at its end of the irarne to said apex, and a body havingfla't eachend a conically tapered portion to roll upon the four aforesaid rail portions of said frame, said body being tapered at each end to a sufiicient extent to cause it torollalongsaid inclined tracks toward said apex under the urge of gravity, the angle of divergence of said rails being complementary to portions of said body.

2: The subject matter of claim 1 and said V- shaped members being pivotally connected so as to form a foldable frame. 1

JOHN R. BATES.

- the. extent of the tapers of said conically tapered FEB NQ S L Thefollowingreferences are of record in the file of this patentl I I Catalogue ofScientificfj Instruments, LIE. Knott Apparatus 00., Boston, Mass, catalogue item No. 25-320 described and shown on page 106. Received in the Scientific Library on J anuary 10, 1 917. 

